A man is accused of fraud by false representation in a case linked to murdered Sunday World journalist Martin O’Hagan, who was shot in Lurgan in 2001.
Michael Kingsberry (43), with an address in England, is charged in relation to between August 14 in 2019 and March 1, 2022.
It is alleged he ‘made a false representation, namely, you dishonestly purported to hold information about the murder of Martin O’Hagan, with the intention, by making the representation, to make a gain for yourself, namely a loan from the O’Hagan family’.
That charge has been sent to the Crown Court.
The defendant appeared at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday via video link from England.
The wording of the charge has changed and up until now the “holding charge” mentioned in court was in relation to August 15 in 2019.
It had originally been alleged that the accused ‘dishonestly made a false representation, namely, purported to hold official documents with the intention, by making the representation, to make a gain for yourself or another or to cause loss to family of Martin O’Hagan (deceased) or to expose them to a risk of loss’.
That holding charge has now been withdrawn by prosecutors.
The defendant has been given continuing bail in the sum of £300 and the case was adjourned to Craigavon Crown Court for arraignment in April.
